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FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2013 — Military suicide rates are on the rise, according to the Department of Defense, and in an attempt to help reverse the trend, Army researchers have been trying to identify which soldiers are at risk. Their new study, published in the journal Armed Forces & Society, finds that young white males may be at greater risk of suicide than any other demographic in the military.

The researchers looked at data collected by the Army National Guard, and found that 17- to 24-year-olds were more than one-and-a-half times more likely to have committed suicide than older members of the Army National Guard. Although the researchers couldn’t say for sure why young white males were at a greater risk for suicide, they speculate that it may be because young men are still developing and trying to define who they are as people.

“This age span prescribes specific tasks for the individual, which defines who the individual is and how their identity relates to others,” the study authors, led by Army research psychologists James Griffith PhD and Col. Mark Vaitkus PhD, both with the Army National Guard, wrote in the study. "Self-identity provides the individual with a sense of worth and meaning, characteristics often absent in suicide cases.

“This age span prescribes specific tasks for the individual, which defines who the individual is and how their identity relates to others,” the study authors, led by Army research psychologists James Griffith and Mark Vaitkus, wrote in the study. "Self-identity provides the individual with a sense of worth and meaning, characteristics often absent in suicide cases."

Why the Lower Risk for Minorities?

The researchers also found that males were more than three times more likely to have committed suicide than females, which they said is probably due to the stigma attached to men seeking help for emotional problems. In addition, white soldiers were nearly two times more likely to have committed suicide than other racial groups, something the study authors attributed to the social support in minority communities.

“Some have also described African Americans’ higher level of participation in religion, compared to whites’ generally lower level, as an additional inhibition against self-harm,” the authors wrote. “Others have also described the greater resiliency among African Americans in adapting to adverse life circumstances, such as discrimination, unemployment, poverty, urban living, and the like.”

Surprisingly, the researchers wrote, soldiers who were deployed to combat zones did not show a significantly higher risk for suicide, although deployment could have other long-lasting psychological effects.

“Having been deployed and combat exposure can be traumatic for some soldiers, often leading to behavioral health conditions, such as PTSD and depression,” they wrote. “Yet, most soldiers will be exposed to such events without negative behavioral health consequences, in particular, suicide intention.”

Suicide Among Veterans

It’s not just active military members who are at risk for suicide. A February 2013 report by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairsdetailed the startling increase in military veteran suicide, finding that 22 veterans commit suicide every day – something Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said is outrageous.

“The trends are headed in the wrong direction,” he said in a statement. “Our leaders in Washington need to accelerate efforts to shrink wait times for mental health care and find more creative solutions like the Veteran Crisis Line. The country should be outraged that we are allowing this tragedy to continue.”

Military Suicide Prevention Efforts

The Army has several suicide-prevention initiatives in place, including hotlines, messages from high-ranking Army officials, and FAQs about what happens to soldiers who seek help on its website. Much of the website is dedicated to removing the stigma that often comes when military members seeking help.

“The fact that you have voluntarily sought counseling or treatment for a mental health problem does not suggest that your problem is more serious than someone who has not,” the Army says on the FAQ page. “Instead, it shows that you are aware of the problem and are trying to deal with it in a responsible manner. This voluntary action is considered positive evidence of reliability and a willingness to fulfill personnel security responsibilities.”

However, the authors of the new study say that, in order to effectively curb the military suicide rate, initiatives need to be supplemented with annual mental health screenings, which would include asking a standard set of questions about suicide to all soldiers.

“Screening might also include the experiences of interpersonal difficulties and loss, and substance abuse, as these have been found to be co-occurring conditions of suicide,” they wrote. “After identifying those at risk, soldiers need to be managed and provided appropriate support and care.”

Ultimately, the study authors wrote, more needs to be done to help soldiers in trouble, adding that “this is an area needing further attention by policymakers.”

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